Casey Blake released by Colorado Rockies

AP PhotoCasey Blake, 38, was 3-for-20 with seven strikeouts in eight Cactus League games this spring.

The Colorado Rockies have released third baseman Casey Blake and will use a tandem of younger, more inexperienced players at the position.

Blake, 38, was 3-for-20 with seven strikeouts in eight Cactus League games this spring.

In his place, the Rockies will use utilitymen Chris Nelson and Jordan Pacheco until third-base prospect Nolan Arenado is ready for the majors.

"We like what we have seen from both of them," general manager Dan O'Dowd told The Denver Post. "And this provides our lineup with some flexibility."

Nelson, 26, was the Rockies’ first-round pick (ninth overall) in 2004. He hit .250 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 63 games with Colorado last season, and his only other major league experience came in 2010 when he went 7-for-25 in 17 games.

As a rookie last season, Pacheco, 26, hit .286 (24-for-84) with two homers and 14 RBIs. He has been used primarily at catcher in the minors.

Blake, who has played 13 seasons in the majors, hit .252 with four homers and 26 RBIs in an injury-shortened season (63 games) with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011.

The Denver Post notes that Rockies third basemen ranked 15th in the NL last season with a .222 batting average and 14th in the NL with a .943 fielding percentage.

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